“I have an interview the next Monday” thundered Sanjay, “My cousin’s wedding reception is slated for the weekend and with dandruff how do you think I can let my hair down?” pondered Shreya. The world is buzz about the stress and strain of infotech, business process outsourcing, management but have you thought a little about the deadlines Doctors get? More about that later.
Bad odour, bad breath and dandruff are considered the trio of specifications asserting lack of hygiene. Far from the truth as dandruff is surely not due to uncleanliness. It is more of a cosmetic problem than a medical one. The tiara on the heads of ilks of Sens & the Rais sits lightly and dandruff is taboo for all those along the beauty & social ladder. The cosmetic revolution in India is growing at fast ebb thanks to the shampoos to fight dandruff marketed as fast moving consumer goods keeping the top line growth of companies surging. Ask the “Levers & Nestles”.
The itching, annoying persistent white flakes of the scalp is called Dandruff.
The skin continuously sheds off dead cells and so does the scalp which also a part of the skin. The whole skin in our body is almost replaced once in 24 days. When the shedding of cells is faster and if the cells are still alive when shed it results in Dandruff.
The causes could be internal meaning a change of mechanism in the metabolism or influenced by external factors influenced by social characteristics.
Internal Causes:
Imbalance of hormones.
Poor health.
Poor hygiene.
Allergic hypersensitivity.
Lack of rest.
Emotional stress.
Excessive consumption of sugar, fat and starch.
Improper nutrition.
External Causes:
Hair sprays and gels when used excessively.
Hair coloring products.
Hot air curlers.
Cold weather.
Stress and anxiety.
Infrequent shampooing and non-application of hair oil can also cause dandruff.
One of the causes is due to a fungus called Pityrospyrum ovale which dwells in the scalp and does not cause any symptoms but in a few people can go out of control and cause Dandruff.
Homoeopathy can see that the dandruff reduces and the abnormal shedding of skin cells is corrected so that early exfoliation of cells does not take place.
Homoeopathy also helps in reducing hair fall and improves hair growth too.
CANTHARIS is for people who have dandruff due to exposure to heat of sun and perspiration. CARBONEUM SULPH is for people with exfoliative dandruff with itching. LYCOPODIUM will cure dandruff, hairfall and improve hair growth also premature graying of hair. NATRUM MUR cures the greasy, oily skin of the scalp leading to dandruff and hairfall. PHOSPHORUS cures the itching of scalp, falling of hair in large bunches. STAPHYSAGRIA cures Seborrhoeic Dermatitis with itching behind the ears and dandruff. SULPHUR cures the dandruff due to unhygienic condition of the hair. THUJA cures the tendency for chronic dandruff.